Thursday, December 31, 2009

I arrived late to this particular party (just about a year late, in fact). Merriweather Post Pavilion, by Animal Collective, was released in January 2009, and is now making appearances on best-of-the-year lists. I can hear why, but I must warn the unadventurous among us: the disc may not be for everyone . . .

Sonic is the best word I can think of to describe the album. The disc is heavy on overlapping vocals and sounds, and on first listen, the music can be a bit overwhelming. It requires repeated listens to hear, take in, and appreciate it all.

With it's contagious beat and simple (notsimplistic) lyrics, one of my favorites on the disc is "My Girls," which is a song about providing for his daughter and wife-- not a subject of too many pop/rock songs. Another favorite is "Daily Routine," which has frantic keyboards interjected into the syncopated beat. "Taste" seems like you're in a trippy videogame.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Playing favorites with ten years of cinema? Not an easy task. I could finesse this list indefinitely and still feel that I've left something out. The movies included on this list have left an indelible impression on me. I remember watching Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love when it was first released by Criterion; watching Maggie Cheung slowly walk up and down that beautifully lit stairway to buy noodles. I remember the frisson that went through me as I watched Naomi Watts collapse in on herself in David Lynch's masterful fever dream Mulholland Drive. I remember Samantha Morton as the title character in 2002's Morvern Callar, tentatively running her fingers along a door-frame as she waits for her friend to answer. (Not since Greta Garbo has an actor or actress been able to express so much with their hands.) And I will never forget the devastating and near-wordless opening scene of There Will Be Blood, as Daniel Day-Lewis damages his body and his psyche with his repetitive and lonely trade.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

9: An animated post-apocalyptic adventure, in which a rag doll named 9 (voiced by Elijah Wood) is humankind's last hope. Filmmaker Shane Acker expanded his short film of the same name into this feature-length production.Find 9 in the catalog!

Jennifer's Body: The production team that brought you Juno has re-teamed for a comedy/horror film. Penned by Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody, Jennifer's Body is a smarmy hybrid of '80s horror, post-Apatow pop-cultural references, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Megan Fox finally gets a chance to interact with non-Transformers and actors not named Shia Labeouf.Find Jennifer's Body in the catalog!

Paranormal Activity: A young couple buy a home in San Diego and profoundly offend the evil spirits that live there. Paranormal Activity is presented as a video record of the supernatural occurrences within the home. Inevitably compared to The Blair Witch Project (1999), Paranormal Activity is an impressive horror film that deserves to be taken on its own terms.Find Paranormal Activity in the catalog!

A Perfect Getaway: Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich star as newlyweds in this action thriller. Their honeymoon in Hawaii becomes a dangerous battle of wills when they cross paths with a former-soldier (played by Timothy Olyphant) and his girlfriend.Find A Perfect Getaway in the catalog!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

After thinking about the movies I saw in the theater during 2009 I came up with this list of my favorites. All but two are now available on DVD. Check them out (or put them on hold) from the library!

(500) Days of Summer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoey Deschanel star in this story, told out of sequence, of boy meets girl. I love that this movie doesn't follow the boring "romantic comedy" rules. Gordon-Levitt is one of the most talented young actors working today. Find it in the catalog!Adventureland: A movie about twenty-somethings working at a theme park during the summer of 1987. The movie's 1980s details (music, clothes) don't overshadow how the feelings and situations faced by the characters can fit into any decade: You've graduated college and are supposed to move on to the next phase of your life, but you're not entirely sure what that next phase is. Stand-out performances from actors Jesse Eisenberg and Martin Starr. Find it in the catalog!

Bright Star: Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw are mesmerizing in this movie about the romance between the poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. Possibly still playing in theaters.

Fantastic Mr. Fox: Based on the 1970 children's book by Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson directs this animated stop-motion film filled with whimsical details that is fun for moviegoers of all ages. George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Jason Schwartzman do excellent voice-over work as a family of foxes who are pushed out of their home by three farmers. After watching Fantastic Mr. Fox you'll want to modify your tube socks into bandit hats, too. Still playing in theaters.

The Hangover: I am rooting for Zach Galifianakis to receive an Oscar nomination for his uproarious performance in this movie about a bachelor party gone awry in Las Vegas. Another of my favorite highlights is Ed Helms' song at the piano, in which he ponders what tigers dream about. Find it in the catalog!

I Love You, Man: Jason Segel and Paul Rudd make an awesome comedy (and musical) duo. I loved the movie so much I took my picture next to several Spanish-language posters advertising the movie when I was in Spain over the summer. Find it in the catalog!

Inglourious Basterds: Melanie Laurent steals the movie with her performance as Shosanna Dreyfus, whose entire family was killed by Nazis. Years later, when German soldier Fredrick Zoller rents her movie theater out for a private screening of his war movie she sets into motion her plans for revenge. Find it in the catalog!

Paper Heart: Comedian/musician Charlyne Li interviews people across the country about love. What I especially enjoy about this movie is how Li creates puppets and dioramas to recreate special memories shared by the interviewees, whose stories are at once sweet, moving, and hilarious.Find it in the catalog!

Up: Russell, a Wilderness Explorer Scout, assists Mr. Fredericksen in an adventure that takes them to South America in a floating house tied with balloons. A good movie to watch with the whole family. "Squirrel!" Find it in the catalog!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Looking back on the 2000s, several movie critics have put together lists of the best films from the past ten years. Whether or not you agree with their rankings, I think it is fun to see which movies are included. Take a look at this selection of the best of the decade lists. Do you agree with the films selected? Are there any listed you will make a note to check out from the library and watch?

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

(500) Days of Summer: A romantic comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Boy believes Girl to be he his soul-mate, based on a mutual love of The Smiths and surrealist artist René Magritte. Boy's earnestness must overcome Girl's aloofness.Find 500 Days of Summer in the catalog!

All About Steve: The worst movie of 2009? Sure, some people have said that. But the 6% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes would seem to mitigate that claim. Sandra Bullock stars as a manic crossword puzzle writer, obsessed with Bradley Cooper and patent leather go-go boots.Find All About Steve in the catalog!

District 9: An intriguing mix of Office-style pseudo-documentary and sci-fi action. District 9 was a surprise box-office hit that has already been hailed as a classic. Directed by Neill Blomkamp. Produced by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, King Kong).Find District 9 in the catalog!

Extract: Mike Judge is best known as the creator of the animated television shows Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill,but he has directed several "live action" comedies (including Office Space, a masterpiece of workplace angst). Judge's latest film stars Jason Bateman as the disenchanted head of a flavor-extract company. Also starring: Ben Affleck, Kristen Wiig, and Mila Kunis.Find Extract in the catalog!

Friday, December 18, 2009

The same old Christmas songs dominate the radio and the insides of stores and malls; how many times can you hear "The Christmas Song" overdone by chart-topping singers? For something different, listen to this five-disc set of Christmas songs from Sufjan Stevens. Released in 2006, each disc is an EP that was previously only given to his friends and family from 2001-2006. Well-known traditional Christmas songs like "We Three Kings," "Little Drummer Boy," and "Away in a Manger" are included, as well as lesser known traditional songs (at least to my ears), like "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming." Stevens also contributes original songs with unique titles you won't find anywhere else, like "It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad!" and "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!"

I really enjoy the arrangements of the songs, especially the ones where Stevens plays the banjo. I feel that the musicians on each song are genuinely celebrating the spirit of Christmas; the performances have a grassroots, down home feel to them. The music is a perfect fit for walking in the snow, putting up decorations, or baking cookies. I keep finding myself replaying the first disc, Noel, with its stripped down sound and arrangements of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" and "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming." On these songs especially Stevens' vocals and the song arrangements convey a particular "joyful sadness" that I can't help but be drawn to. In the essay "Christmas Tube Socks," included in the CD booklet, Stevens comments on the "joyful sadness" of Christmas songs, and I think that phrase is a good descriptor for many of the Christmas songs included in this set.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Have you read any of the recent movies playing in theaters? Several movies in theaters or coming to theaters are based on popular books: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, Push by Sapphire (which Precious is based on), Me and Orson Welles by Robert Kaplow, and Up in the Air by Walter Kirn.

To browse a list of movies we have on DVD that are based on books, you can do an easy catalog search. Enter the search phrase based on the novel and dvd and hit enter or click on the "words or phrase" button. Be prepared for a long list of DVDs (over 500 results). Movies based on short stories or plays won't turn up in the results, though.

If you're wondering what novel a particular movie is based on, first click the "Details" button for the item. Then, click on the "Catalog Record" tab. The phrase "Based on the novel by [Author Name]" will be in one of the general notes. In the catalog record for Slumdog Millionaire we see that this movie is based on Vikas Swarup's book Q & A:

A good source to find a list of books and short stories made into movies is provided by the Mid-Continent Public Library in Missouri, on their Based on the Book website.

Here are some fairly recent movies on DVD I have seen and enjoyed that were adapted from books. Watch them or read them in their original book forms!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

G-Force: A team of highly trained government agents save the world from an evil billionaire's diabolical scheme. Only the agents are a quartet of guinea pigs, a cockroach, a fly, and a star-nosed mole. This family-friendly Disney adventure was the #1 movie in the country this past summer. Celebrity rodent voices include: Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, and Sam Rockwell.Find G-Force in the catalog!

The Hangover: Another huge box-office hit from the summer of 2009, The Hangover stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms (Andy from The Office), and Zach Galifianakis as the bewildered leads in this post-bachelor party comedy. Cameos include Las Vegas regulars: Mike Tyson, Wayne Newton, and...Carrot Top.Find The Hangover in the catalog!

Inglourious Basterds: Somewhat disingenuously touted as Quentin Tarantino's take on The Dirty Dozen (1967), Inglourious Basterds is so uniquely the work of its idiosyncratic director that the result is virtually indescribable. Tarantino is always divisive, and certainly many viewers will be put off by the film's pulpy violence and refusal to adhere to war-movie conventions. For this reviewer's money, Inglourious Basterds is one of the outstanding films of 2009 and the director's best work since Reservoir Dogs (1992).Find Inglourious Basterds in the catalog!

Taking Woodstock: Ang Lee has directed films as stylistically disparate as Sense and Sensibility (an adaptation of Jane Austen's 1811 novel), Hulk (a big-budget take on the Marvel Comics superhero), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (the revolutionary multi-national martial arts sensation), and the Academy Award winning drama Brokeback Mountain. Lee's most recent film is Taking Woodstock, which examines the 1969 Woodstock Festival from the fortuitous perspective of Elliot Tiber (played by actor/comedian Demetri Martin). Based on Tiber's memoir Taking Woodstock: a True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life, published in 2007.Find Taking Woodstock in the catalog!

Monday, December 14, 2009

It is difficult to recap the many songs/records/videos/performers that have made an impact on you in a given year. But, I've given it some thought and compiled a list of my personal - very subjective - top ten albums of 2009. These albums are not ranked. They are ordered alphabetically, which seemed the most democratic way to list them. (Although, in a way, every new Bill Callahan album will be my favorite album of the year.) I limited myself to "new" music released in 2009. So, this list doesn't include such recently released live recordings as James Brown's Live at the Garden or Leonard Cohen's Live at the Isle of Wight, 1970. Both of which are incredible, by the way. Feel free to comment or list some of your own favorites!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

I know I'm a little behind the times, as The Fame came out in 2008, but I only recently got a copy from the library after being on the hold list since late March. That's how popular Lady Gaga's music is, and I can see why. The Fame is full of fun, addictive dance songs you'll want to play over and over again. Lady Gaga often gets attention for her crazy outfits and awards-show performances. Focus on her music and you'll see she is a powerful singer and songwriter; she co-wrote all the songs on the album. Her creative music videos and outfits are just icing on the cake. My favorite songs on the album include "Poker Face," "Just Dance," "Lovegame," and "Starstruck." The Fame was recently nominated for several Grammy awards, including Album of the Year and Best Electronic/Dance Album. The undeniably catchy song "Poker Face," produced by RedOne, received nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Dance Recording. The Fame has also recently been re-released in a deluxe edition called The Fame Monster, which includes 8 new songs, including "Bad Romance." Lady Gaga is currently on "The Monster Ball Tour" and will perform at the Chicago Theatre January 8, 9, and 10.

Friday, December 11, 2009

"Do you wanna take that ride with me?"~ Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, Public Enemies (2009)

John Dillinger. Pretty Boy Floyd. Baby Face Nelson. American as apple-pie. Public Enemies (2009) explores the enduring myth of the 1930s outlaw, deconstructs that myth, and ultimately creates a mythology of its own. Adapted from Bryan Burrough's book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-1934, the film jettisons the book's big-picture overview of Depression-Era banditry, focusing instead on the final riotous year in the life of John Dillinger.

Opening with the 1933 jail-break at Indiana State Prison, Public Enemies wastes no time in establishing the central characteristics of its protagonist, John Dillinger: contempt for authority, loyalty to his criminal confederates, and willingness to use violence in the furtherance of his schemes. Throughout the film, Dillinger's character is most clearly defined in contrast to his contemporaries. His underworld associates are generally venal, opportunistic, and - in the case of Baby Face Nelson - psychotic. By contrast, Dillinger is relatively disciplined and averse to unnecessary violence. He is also self-aware enough to utilize his public persona. In a revealing exchange, Dillinger tells Alvin Karpis that he won't be party to kidnapping because the "public" doesn't like it. And, as a full-time fugitive, he must hide among them.

Johnny Depp invests the role of John Dillinger with bravado, outlaw charm, and the unique sensitivity that has become a hallmark of all of Johnny Depp's greatest performances. Any number of actors could have played the popular conception of a 1930s tough guy, but Depp isn't interested in impersonating James Cagney. His performance inPublic Enemies is one of the most mature and refined of his stellar career.

Dillinger's nemesis is Melvin Purvis, played with just the right amount of subtlety by Christian Bale. Agent Purvis' relentless pursuit of these outlaws would seem to have less to do with his own sense of justice than with meeting the demands of besieged FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The lengths to which he'll go to satisfy Hoover's mandate have tragic consequences.

Marion Cotillard (2008 Best Actress winner, La Vie En Rose) plays Dillinger's love interest, Billie Frechette. There is a certain tenderness to their love affair that would otherwise be completely absent from the film. Their clipped verbal shorthand provides the only biographical data we get on the early life of John Dillinger. He describes himself as an Indiana boy whose mother died when he was three years old. He had an abusive father. He is a fan of baseball, movies, whiskey, and good clothes. Frechette describes her life with almost heartbreaking simplicity: she spent part of her childhood on a Native American Indian reservation, moved to Chicago, became a hat-check girl, and nothing exciting ever happened for her.

Director Michael Mann strikes a powerful balance with Public Enemies: presenting sympathetic and recognizable characters, while still satisfying the demands of a crime drama. Which is to say, there is no shortage of action. We witness multiple bank robberies, prison breaks, car chases, foot pursuits... All of them masterfully executed and technically stunning. Mann's take on the infamous shootout at Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin is particularly impressive. John Dillinger, "Red" Hamilton, and the mercurial Baby Face Nelson are holed up at the Little Bohemia Lodge following a calamitous bank robbery. Melvin Purvis and his agents learn the location of their hideout by torturing one of the gang's associates. The resulting shootout and chase is not just viscerally exciting, but emotionally so as well. (Local history buffs may note the inaccuracy of Nelson being killed in the immediate aftermath of the Wisconsin shootout at Little Bohemia. In reality, he was mortally wounded by Federal agents in Barrington, Illinois, approximately ten miles from your local Library.)

The penultimate scenes at Chicago's Biograph Theater are particularly affecting. Dillinger watches the 1934 MGM picture Manhattan Melodrama. His eyes focus on actress Myrna Loy, a glamorous moll. Is he thinking of Billie? He smiles to himself as Clark Gable says, "If I can't live the way I want, at least let me die the way I want." Is he finding some sort of affirmation in that character's stoic pose? Is he laughing at the soft Hollywood gangster? Possibly both. What we know for certain is that on a sweltering day in July, 1934, John Dillinger went to the movies. And, like the rest of us, he saw his own personal melodrama up there on the silver screen.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Cove: A documentary look at former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, and his ongoing fight to end the slaughter and mistreatment of dolphins. He and other activists in the film are particularly vocal in their opposition to the annual whale hunts held in Taiji, Wakayama, Japan. The Cove is expected to be a nominee in the Best Documentary category at the 2010 Oscars.Find it in the catalog!Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The sixth film in the series, and the second directed by David Yates. The Half-Blood Prince is generally considered to be the darkest chapter in the series thus far.Find it in the catalog!Julie and Julia: Adapted from Julia Child's autobiography My Life In France and Julie Powell's bestsellerJulie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. Julie and Julia presents the contrasting stories of blogger Julie Powell in present-day New York and pre-success Julia Child in 1950s Paris. These parallel narratives work well enough, but the film is anchored by Meryl Streep's outstanding performance and the wonderfully realized love affair of Julia Child and her husband Paul (played by a delightful Stanley Tucci). This is one of those rare films that you, your mom, and your boyfriend can all agree on. So maybe keep this one in mind when you're scrambling for a crowd-pleaser over the Holidays.Find it in the catalog!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Last night the Arctic Monkeys performed an all ages show at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago. Opening with "Dance Little Liar" off their most recent album Humbug, the Arctic Monkeys (Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Nick O'Malley, and Matt Helders) attacked their songs with a ferocity much appreciated by the crowd. Not surprisingly, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," riled up the crowd and got one of the biggest responses of the night. "Brianstorm," "This House is a Circus," and "Fluorescent Adolescent" also ignited the crowd's energy. A cover of the Nick Cave song "Red Right Hand" was even thrown into the mix. While the Arctic Monkeys played songs from all three of their albums, a good chunk of the set-list came from Humbug, including the single "Crying Lightning" and my personal favorites "Cornerstone," "My Propeller," and "The Jeweller's Hands." For the encore they performed "If You Were There, Beware" and "505," which started out mellow and then built to an aggressive finish. This was my first time seeing the band perform live and I had an awesome night (my ears are still ringing).

Note: Unfortunately, movies that open in limited release may not come to Chicago or nearby theaters until later in December (or maybe even January). I wrote about Me and Orson Welles as a November release, and it's just now being released in the Chicago-area on December 11!

Up in the Air (now playing in limited release): Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) makes his living by traveling across the country firing people. Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), a new hire traveling with him, has developed a video conferencing system that eliminates the need for employees like Bingham. Also starring Vera Farmiga, Jason Bateman, and Danny McBride. Directed by Jason Reitman, this film has already received much critical praise; the National Board of Review named it the best movie of the year (Kendrick was named best supporting actress).

The Lovely Bones (December 11 in limited release): Peter Jackson directed this adaptation of the 2002 Alice Sebold novel. After her murder, 14-year-old Susie (Saoirse Ronan) watches her family and friends (and the man who killed her) from her heaven. Also starring Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weiz, Stanley Tucci, and Michael Imperioli.

Broken Embraces (December 11 in limited release): The relationship between Lena (Penelope Cruz), an actress, and Mateo (Lluis Homar), a filmmaker and screenwriter, is the center of this movie. Director Pedro Almodvar re-teams with Penelope Cruz for a movie about making movies.

Avatar (December 18): Written and directed by James Cameron, who last directed 1997's Titanic, this film uses never-before-seen special effects. Using an avatar, Jake (Sam Worthington) goes on a mission to infiltrate the Na'vi of the planet Pandora, which is rich in a particular mineral needed on Earth. Avatars (a hybrid life-form made from human and Na'vi DNA) are used by humans because the air of Pandora is toxic. Jake is taken in by Neytiri's (Zoe Saldana) family, and his mission on Pandora changes after he spends time with and learns about the Na'vi.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (December 25 in limited release): Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) travels around with a theater troupe and a magical mirror that allows people to experience whatever is in their imaginations. This is Heath Ledger's final film. His character, Tony, goes through several transformations when he enters the mirror; these transformations are played by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Ferrell.

Sherlock Holmes (December 25): Guy Ritchie directs this new look to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's popular character. Robert Downey Jr. is Holmes and Jude Law plays Watson. From the trailer it appears that Holmes participates in some sort of street-fighting club! Also starring Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, and Kelly Reilly.

I could have written about more December releases because there are so many that look good. Are there any movies coming out this month that you definitely have to see?

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The sixth and final season of Lost begins on Tuesday, February 2 on ABC. The "premiere event" is scheduled to start at 7 PM. No new footage from season six has been released to be used in promotional TV spots, which means ABC's commercials have been pretty boring. If you are a Lost fan, check out this awesome TV promo from Spanish station Cuatro. The editing (Kate, Ben, Jack, and Locke are pieces on a chessboard!), music ("Everything in its Right Place" by Radiohead), and poem excerpt (Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam) combine together brilliantly:

A selection of movies featuring actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, available through the library:

Doubt (2008)
DVD FICTION DOUBT
Hoffman received an Oscar nomination for his role as Father Flynn, a Boston priest who is accused by Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) of an inappropriate relationship with a student. Is he guilty or innocent? Long after you watch this movie you'll still go back and forth over what really happened.Find it in the catalog!

Synecdoche, New York (2008)
DVD COMEDY SYNECDOCHE
Hoffman plays theater director Caden Cotard, who has his actors re-enact their lives on a set that replicates Manhattan inside a warehouse.Find it in the catalog!

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
NEW DVD FICTION BEFORE
Brothers Andy (Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) Hanson are in debt and plan to rob their parents' jewelry store without hurting anyone, but something goes wrong.Find it in the catalog!

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
DVD FICTION CHARLIE
Hoffman received another Oscar nomination for his role as Gust Avrakotos, a CIA agent helping Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) work to supply weapons to the rebels of the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan during the 1980s.Find it in the catalog!

The Savages (2007)
DVD COMEDY SAVAGES
Jon (Hoffman) and Wendy (Laura Linney) Savage are left to care for their estranged father, who has dementia, after his girlfriend dies. Even though they haven't spoken to him in twenty years, they must rearrange their lives in order to be there for a father that was, and still is, abusive to them.Find it in the catalog!

Along Came Polly (2004)
DVD COMEDY ALONG
The funniest thing about this movie is Hoffman's performance as Sandy Lyle, best friend to Reuben Feffer (played by Ben Stiller). The rest of the plot involves Stiller and Jennifer Aniston falling in love, or something. "White chocolate!"Find it in the catalog!

Almost Famous (2000)
DVD FICTION ALMOST
As music journalist Lester Bangs, Hoffman is a mentor to fifteen-year-old William Miller (Patrick Fugit), who is writing about the band Stillwater for Rolling Stone.Find it in the catalog!

Magnolia (1999)

DVD FICTION MAGNOLIA
One of the nine characters followed in this movie is Phil Parma (Hoffman), a nurse who cares for a dying Earl Patridge (Jason Robards).

Thursday, December 3, 2009

This is a short-list of DVDs released (or in some cases re-released) in 2009 that I have particularly enjoyed. I've included a parenthetical year beside each title, representing the original production year of each film/TV show. I hope you enjoy these DVDs as much as I have! Oh, and feel free to list some of your own favorites in the comments section.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

In my book, Sunday nights used to be dismal. There was very little on TV to escape the fact that you had to return to work (or school) the next morning. Now, I actually look forward to Sunday nights and I have PBS to thank: the new season of Masterpiece Classic begins in January. These BBC productions are enjoyable because they are the definition of escapist-- beautiful people in beautiful costumes cavorting in beautiful settings. (It doesn't hurt that the themes are pretty timeless too.)

December 20, 2009-January 3, 2010CranfordPBS is airing an encore presentation of Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford. With it's large ensemble cast, Judi Dench included, this popular mini-series portrays the ins-and-outs of life in a small English town.

January 10-17, 2010Return to CranfordThe success of Cranford has garnered a sequel, not coincidently titled, Return to Cranford. This installment officially kicks off the new season of Masterpiece Classic. Once again starring Judi Dench, it will pick up where Cranford left off: the building of a new railroad that may have undesirable consequences.

January 24-February 7, 2010EmmaTwo seasons ago, the works of Jane Austen were presented. Well, most of them. Mansfield Park (Find it in the catalog!), Northanger Abbey, Persuassion, and Sense & Sensibility (Find it in the catalog!) all got the treatment. I found all adaptions to be as good as, if not better, than previous versions released in the theaters with high-profile stars and bigger budgets.

Lacking from this lineup was Emma (and Pride & Prejudice, which they are apparently not going near-- maybe because there have already been two well-liked, if not loved, versions produced?). But, Emma is getting the redux this upcoming season with Romola Garai in the title role and Johnny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley.

February 14, 2010Northanger Abbey (encore presentation)Not my favorite Austen work, but actress Felicity Jones does an excellent job as the protagonist character Catherine Moreland.Find it in the catalog!

February 21, 2010Persuassion (encore presentation)Of all the PBS presentations of Austen, this was my favorite adaption. The simple, but timeless story follows Anne Elliot as she discovers that she still cares for the suitor she was persuaded to turn down a decade earlier. Of course, he's now a very rich man. Starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones, I even prefer this version to the one starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds (gasp . . .).Find it in the catalog!

February 28, 2010The 39 StepsStars Rupert Penry-Jones (from Persuassion) in the adaptation of the novel by John Buchan.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Following up their 2007 release of Favourite Worst Nightmare, England's Arctic Monkeys have put out another great album in Humbug. They start off with "My Propeller," a song seductive in both the delivery of Alex Turner's vocals and its guitar refrain, not to mention the lyrics themselves. The Arctic Monkeys have a distinctive lead singer in the voice of Turner, due to his point of view shared in the lyrics and the fact that his Yorkshire accent is very prominent. Turner, who wrote the lyrics for all the songs on the album, has an amazing ability to tell vivid stories during short three to five minute songs.

"Cornerstone" is a fine example of Turner's storytelling skills and is also my favorite song from Humbug. In this song a guy describes how he keeps thinking he sees a particular woman around town (at The Battleship, Rusty Hook, Parrot's Beak, and finally The Cornerstone), but when he realizes it's not her he still asks the lookalike, "Please can I call you her name?" I just love the way this song builds as he goes place to place without having any success finding her: "I've asked everyone / I'm beginning to think I imagined you all along."

I won't heap all the praise on Turner; another reason I love the Arctic Monkeys is because their style of music moves between being aggressive and restrained. This album includes songs that are very aggressive and loud ("Potion Approaching," "Pretty Visitors"), contemplative and restrained ("Cornerstone," "Jeweller's Hands"), and a combination of both sides ("Crying Lightning," "Fire and the Thud," "Dance Little Liar"). I have enjoyed their previous albums of Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006) and Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), and believe that Humbug further reinforces their talent as a band, as it is their strongest showing yet.